You haven't lived here until ... you tour Bell's Brewery

7:17 AM, April 13, 2014

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT? Bell’s Brewery is one of the top brewers in Michigan. It claims it’s the oldest craft brewer east of Colorado. This is like suds central.

WHERE ARE THE TOURS GIVEN? Bell’s has two sites. Guided tours of the original brewery, which is attached to the Eccentric Cafe (355 E. Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo), are 30-45 minutes long. They start at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sundays. Guided tours of the Comstock brewery (8938 Krum, Galesburg) are on the first Saturday of the month, except holidays, at 12:30 p.m. The tours are as long as the Kalamazoo ones.

NOTHING DURING THE WEEK? Comstock has a brewing gallery, which is open to the public 2-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

WHAT IS THERE TO SEE AT THESE TWO LOCATIONS? The tours focus on the beer-making process and the history of the company, according to Bell’s Brewery Vice President Laura Bell. Visitors will see the brewhouse with all the brewing and fermentation vessels — including the mash tun, the lauter tun, the kettle and the whirlpool — and the bottling. “People like to find out where beer is made,” she said, explaining that the process of drinking beer is “very social, very community-oriented.”

DO I GET TO RAISE A GLASS TO THE TOUR GUIDE WHEN IT’S OVER? There are no samples at the Comstock site, but after the Kalamazoo tour, participants may head next door to the Eccentric Cafe to try various Bell’s Brewery offerings.